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22 results for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The 22 push-up challenge aims to raise awareness of veteran suicide, after shocking figures revealed that 22 US veterans are taking their own lives every day. The inspiring online challenge has made it overseas, with amputee British soldiers joining the initiative.

British servicemen and women have been asked to film themselves taking part in the challenge. They will film themselves performing 22 push-ups daily for 22 days, uploading the videos to Facebook under the hashtags #22KILL and #22pushupchallenge.

Each day, a new person is nominated to join the initiative and take the challenge.

Now, more than 10,000 British soldiers (both currently serving and ex-servicemen) have taken part in the challenge, completing a...

Police officers who suffer post-traumatic stress want more to be done.

In the days following the 7/7 London bombings in 2005, acting sergeant, Gary Hayes of the British Transport police (BTP) was assigned to the temporary mortuary where bodies were being identified.

“When we got bodies in, they’d been down in those tunnels for two or three days, the decomposition, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” he said.

But Hayes believes it was a less visceral sign that triggered the complex PTSD he later developed. A card written by a father to his son, who had been killed on the day was what Hayes believes cost him his job.

“…The most overwhelming feeling of guilt came over me, it has stayed with me ever since.”

Hayes and other police officers (many who were first responders on 7/7) are calling for more help for emergency workers who develop PTSD. They believe that while people are aware of the condition and how it affects military personnel, very little has been done to understand PTSD among police, ambulance and...

A drug for multiple sclerosis could be re-purposed to erase bad memories for those who have suffered trauma.

The drug in question, fingolimod, has been tested on mice and was found to help rid them of memories of physical pain. The experiment, published in Nature Neuroscience, involved feeding mice the drug before giving them a mild electric shock. Normally, when mice are anxious they stop moving and have a fear of the chamber where they were given the shock. This behaviour rapidly reduced when the mice were given the fingolimod.

Scientists are hoping that this drug can be used in the future to remove bad memories and feelings associated with traumatic events – something that can be re-learnt, without the painful memories. This process is known as ‘fear extinction’ and has the potential to help rid sufferers of phobias and post-traumatic stress.

Up until now, no drug has been found to suppress such feelings successfully. Previous drug trials looked at medication that suppresses an enzyme known as HDAC, but trials showed that while sometimes successful,...

A 'significant increase' has been seen in the number of UK veterans seeking treatment for mental health issues.

Mental health charity Combat Stress has reported a 57% increase in numbers of Afghanistan veteran referrals from 2012-2013. The charity believes this issue will become highlighted as UK forces prepare to leave the country.

Combat Stress says in the past veterans waited an average of 13 years after serving before they sought help, but now veterans are waiting an average of 18 months. BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt believes this could be explained by reduced stigma surrounding mental health problems as well as a greater awareness of the help available.

“The charity says it is small but a significant number of veterans who are battling these hidden psychological wounds that, if they don’t seek help, can get far, far worse and be far harder to treat.”

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common concern from veterans, a condition that can affect anyone who has experienced some sort of traumatic event – such as military...

Experts in the U.S. are creating virtual humans, which could be used as a stopgap therapy for those suffering from trauma and depression.

Researchers from the Universities of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies are leading the way in the creation of virtual humans – the results of which could help those in need.

Blinking naturally and shuffling slightly in her chair, Ellie the virtual human starts her dialogue by introducing herself and pointing out that she is not a therapist, but would like to learn more about real people.

The way she speaks and reacts to people is determined by the tone of voice, facial expressions and body language of the person talking. All of these details are picked up by a simple gaming sensor and webcam. Researcher Dr Louis-Philippe Morency describes this as ‘Wizard of Oz mode’.

Ellie is currently controlled by a team of two while data is gathered and analysed...

According to recent statistics, new diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have increased within British service personnel.

The number of British troops suffering from PTSD has increased over recent years. A total of 94 members of the armed forces were newly diagnosed with the disorder between July and September of last year, this is nearly four times as many recorded in the same period in 2008.

There were 305 new cases of PTSD in the 12 months running up to September of last year, while only 153 were recorded in 2007 – 2008. These statistics have been released by the Defence Analytical Services and Advice.

Figures revealed that personnel who served in Iraq or Afghanistan showed a much higher chance of developing mental disorders. RAF personnel, soldiers and non-officer ranks were also highlighted as more likely to suffer from mental health problems like PTSD.

The city of Misrata, which took the brunt of the Libyan revolution last year, is now faced with an acute crisis of psychiatric care for people left traumatised by the bloodshed of war and the hopelessness of a future with no freedom.

The fighting in Mistrata claimed 2,000 lives and wounded 14,000, giving the city the title of ‘Libya’s Stalingrad’ – one of history’s bloodiest battles.

During the three month battle, soldiers fighting to protect Colonel Gaddafi committed a number of atrocities, including the rape of Misratan women and the castration of Misratan men.

The war may have ended when rebel fighters killed Gaddafi in October last year, but the psychological wounds remain open.

The concept of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is new in Libya and mental illness is still a massive taboo in much of the Arab world.

Millions of us stood silent at 11am last Sunday to remember Britain’s fallen soldiers.

With the plight of brave men and women fresh in our minds, now is the time to think about those who will be returning from Iraq and Afghanistan between now and 2014, when the last battalions are due to return from war.

Thousands of soldiers who appear healthy are suffering from an invisible wound – post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The condition manifests after the witnessing of horrific things.

These people will be haunted by traumatic memories for the rest of their lives, with many turning to drugs and alcohol, and many others losing their families, losing their homes and even losing their desire to continue living.

In some extreme cases, PTSD sufferers commit violent crimes – just a few months ago 24 year old Afghan veteran Aaron Wilkinson hit the news for shooting dead his 52-year-old landlady. He has since admitted...

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has revealed that individuals who possess a certain gene variant could be predisposed to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The American research team who carried out the research analysed the DNA of 200 members of 12 different families who has witnessed and survived the 1988 Armenian earthquake. All of those involved had either seen dead bodies during the incident, or had seen people who had been seriously injured.

What the researchers found was that study participants who carried two particular gene variants (TPH1 and TPH2) known to have an impact upon serotonin production (a hormone which affects mood), were more likely to develop symptoms of PTSD.

PTSD is said to affect approximately 3% of the general population at one point or another, and usually sets in after an individual has experienced trauma, for example after war, a natural disaster or sexual abuse.